Wherever it stands, the Michigan Vietnam Veteran Traveling Memorial honors 2,654 lives lost and helps heal the invisible wounds of countless others who served in the unpopular war.

That place of respect and reconciliation is outside the Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile Road, through 7 p.m. Thursday.

"We look at this as hallowed ground. Come with reverence. We have tissues if needed," said Dave Schoenherr of Macomb Township, one of the caretakers of the mobile monument.

The memorial was escorted from its base in Roseville on Tuesday morning.

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Jean and Tom Moore of Royal Oak were among the first visitors to read the five panels of names and look at accompanying books of biographical information.

"We walk every day and we knew it would be here," said Tom Moore, who served in Vietnam with the Marines Corps in 1969-70. "We're paying our respects."

The Dondero High School graduates recognized the names of classmates. Moore said he thought of their young faces and what he went through overseas.

The Michigan memorial contains many names of young men lost from the area. From Charles Byron Alandt of Royal Oak to George Charles Yoshonis of Ferndale, they hailed from Berkley, Hazel Park, Madison Heights and Troy.

About 58,000 Americans were killed in the long, divisive war fought to stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. Many of those who made it home were shunned by their peers and looked down upon by their elders.

"Everybody thought we shouldn't be there," Schoenherr said. "The younger generation was full of draft dodgers and hippies. They made it hard on us. So did some of the World War II and Korean veterans."

The former gunner on a helicopter said he was lucky to join the VFW Reid Post, Roseville.

"They welcomed me and told me to bring my brothers," he said.

Vietnam veteran Steve Bago of Chesterfield Township urges visitors to the traveling memorial to flip through the volumes of personal information and photos of all but 80 of the Michigan residents killed in service.

"They are more than names," Bago said. "They are sons, a daughter, brothers, husbands and fathers. Fortunately I was able to come back and marry my high school sweetheart and walk my daughter down the aisle. The names of those on the wall didn't have that opportunity. Their lives ended when they were 19 and 20. They made it possible for the rest of us to lay our heads on our pillows at night and feel safe."

The arrival of the wall in Royal Oak marked the first of several solemn and patriotic events set for the city. The schedule culminates with the city's Memorial Day parade at 9 a.m. May 27 and then a memorial service. The theme of the procession that will head down Main Street is "A Time to Remember Our Korean & Vietnam Veterans."

"We want to finally welcome home and thank them for what they did for us," said Carol Hennessey, president of the Royal Oak Memorial Society. "Many came home and people didn't want to have to do anything with them. We hope with this parade and service will help the veterans."

Recognition of their sacrifices has been overdue until recently, said Vietnam veteran Carl Chapman, a member of the Royal Oak Legion Riders who was part of the traveling memorial escort.

"It seems like the people have finally started talking about it in the last couple years," Chapman said.

The 67-year-old former Marine served as a communications specialist aboard the USS El Dorado from 1967-68. He summed up the response to his arrival home to Ferndale at age 21 in one word: indifference.

Chapman said it could have been worse.

"Some guys were spit on or yelled on," he said. "I never had any of that."

Veterans and volunteers will keep vigil of the memorial night and day in Royal Oak.

"When the bars empty out you don't know how people will react," said Stephen Zannetti, one of the parade organizers who offered to keep watch from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.